Product Description
The journey from the valley of darkness by African slaves in 1619, to the mountain top in 2008 with the election of African American Barack Obama, President of the United States
By 1619 the first African indentured servants arrived in the American colonies. The indentured servant was not a slave; they were under contract to provide service, over some time, after which they were set free. This explained free Blacks in the northern states while slavery existed in the south at the same time.
The first slaves were brought into New Amsterdam (later, New York City). By 1690, every colony had slaves. What’s in a name? Initially, African slaves were identified as (NEGROES Spanish for black). After the (Emancipation Proclamation, newly freed slaves were called NIGGERS by KKK and others. Until the early twentieth century freed slaves were referred to as( COLOREDS or NEGROES). During the twentieth century struggle for identity, they referred to themselves as (BLACK AMERICANS). Currently, descendants of ex-slaves from Africa identify themselves as (AFRICAN AMERICAN). What’s in a name…….
What an interesting book! This book is well written while covering such a wide variety of topics that each entry is interesting and enlightening. There was an excellent job of covering a considerable period before the EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION and after many in a clear and concise manner. It definitely gives the readers some food for thought, and they’ll still be thinking about this book and its revelations long after they’ve read the last page.